UFO Info Week-End

Water sports such as diving and sea kayaking are available from Les Hirondelles in

Water sports, such as diving and sea kayaking, are available from Les Hirondelles in Volos (tel: 0030 421 32171). They also arrange walking/trekking and mountain biking.Yacht charters are available from Sunsail at Milina Base Call Sunsail in Portsmouth for details (tel: 01705 222 222). Yachts can be hired on a daily or weekly basis, but previous experience of sailing is required. Swimming in the warm, crystal-clear, blue water is a must, and possible from the many beaches that fringe both the Aegean and Pagasitic coasts.Food and drinkProvided you like Greek food, dining out in Greece is unbelievably cheap. On average lunch, with a plate of tsatsiki (Greek yoghurt with cucumbers and garlic) and one or two other shared hors d’oeuvres, along with a main course, drinks and coffee amounts to the princely sum of £5. For dinner in the evening, add on a few beers and wine and the total rises to about £8 per person.Stathis, on Milina waterfront, offers traditional Greek cooking with a wide variety of dishes that includes calamari and other seafood. The owner is guaranteed to invite you into his kitchen to pick your own food.

Favio’s at Milina Base is a little more upmarket and specialises in fish and more international food.Sokaki in Argalasti is a traditional Greek taverna with the added bonus of good live music. Situated just behind the square, this is Greek cooking at its best.Skala on the island of Palaio Trikeri is the ideal place for lunch, particularly if you have just sailed in. The owner, Costas, who bears a sharp resemblance to the character of the same name in Shirley Valentine, will readily help moor any boat or will come out in his dinghy to ferry you to the restaurant. He does not generally bother with the menu, but just tells you what he has that day.Casablanca in Horto is a café/snack bar with the most wonderful decor, a mixture of Moroccan, French and Greek design.

It also has a balcony overlooking the bay and a secluded garden to escape the heat of the midday sun. The food is limited to snacks – salads, quiche, sandwiches and desserts – but the setting makes it well worth the visit.Night lifeSurprisingly enough in this quiet haven there are two nightclubs within the vicinity of Horto. The Reverly in Horto is open to anyone who enjoys loud music and a young crowd. Music changes to suit clients’ taste, plus there’s free entrance and cheap drinks. Casas in Milina is very similar, with equally loud music and late drinks. The Cuckoo’s Port is a bar on the Milina waterfront with a relaxed atmosphere and good music – an ideal place to watch the sunset.Out of townThere are many excursions around Pelion which cover the northern area around Makrinitsa and Tsangaradha, but also trips out to the Sporades, the islands of Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos. These can be arranged through Milina Holidays, but unless you have unlimited time to spend exploring, Pelion is by far the best option.

The islands, and Skiathos in particular, tend to be very busy, even off-peak.Deals and packagesThere are very few deals and packages, which is the reason why the area has remained unspoilt and undeveloped. Only charters can use the military airfield at Volos on Sundays. The main choice is to go with Sunsail or Sunvil via Skiathos. Nine days in May at the Leda resort, with Sunsail (tel: 01705 222 222) half-board, including flights, transfers and unlimited use of all sailing equipment is £385 per person, based on two sharing.Sunvil Holidays (tel: 020-8568 4499) has one-week packages in May based on two sharing at the Captain George Hotel for £390 per person, including breakfast, return flights and transfers. Sunvil also has a self-catering package at Catarina’s Cottage at £478 per person, per week, including car hire.Further informationA complete Pelion tourist guide is available on the internet at www.oceanisgr . This offers a comprehensive account of the Pelion area, including hotels, apartments, restaurants, excursions, museums, car hire and yacht charters. For other information, contact the Greek Tourist Office in London (tel: 020-7734 5997)..